In winter a truck drove up to an abandoned house. A young woman and two children got out. The neighbors stared at them curiously, wondering why such a young woman was settling into an abandoned shack.
– Apparently, they sold it for cheap, so she came,” said the grandmother.
At this time, the woman broke down her modest belongings on her own and settled in her new home. A teenage girl and a 7-year-old boy willingly helped her.
***
– Guys, listen up. On Saturday, all going to subbotnik. We’re going to clean up the park,” said the homeroom teacher.
– Do you need any equipment? – Someone from the eighth-graders asked.
– We have rakes, buckets and brooms.
Kate was new. She hadn’t quite adapted to the country school yet. When she came out of the classroom to wet a rag for the blackboard, one of the school activists said:
– We’ll quickly clean up the square, let’s help some more. There’s a lot of work in the yard.
– What are you doing? Nothing to do? – Screamed the boys in the back of the classroom.
– I like that idea. The old owners left a lot of junk behind, Kate’s mom can’t do it alone.
– It’s too much already. But if the majority is in favor, I can talk to the principal,” Anna said.
Alex was an old-school man, he had lived in the days when people always helped each other. He knew that the girl has no father, and they themselves are newcomers – the neighbors do not rush to help. So he gave permission.
***
A week later Kate’s classmates gathered in the yard, led by the principal and the homeroom teacher. Soon a truck arrived to pick up all the trash. And then the Village Council joined in – they helped us fix the roof.
– Next month we’ll make another stove, but meanwhile your grandmother will shelter you, – said the director of the state farm.
– Thank you very much. I lived all my childhood in the country, and then moved to the city. But after my husband died, I realized that I can not handle everything, so I returned closer to the land, – Maria cried.
– Do not cry, dearie. Accept with gratitude the help of people. We’ll always support you, we’re all friends here,” Granny said.
***
After the subbotnik Anna tried to complain about the school activist from her class. They say he used the labor of her classmates to stand out from the crowd. But Alex saw nothing wrong with that. How many people took up a good cause, helped a young family.
– Calm down, dear. You have a good class, and responsive children – said the school principal to the class teacher.
And so the girl lived with her children in the village. In general, she did not regret that she decided to move, because here her life was filled with meaning, and her soul – with human kindness.
